Flyers-Devils: Game 24 Preview

Kevin Durso

December 8 2021

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor

With a new coach behind the bench on Monday, the Flyers finally got some offense. For the first time in 18 games, they scored more than three goals. In fact, by game's end, they had five. It still wasn't enough to stop the snowball effect from continuing in a 7-5 defeat, prolonging their now nine-game losing streak.

Now the Flyers hit the road for the first of three games. It starts with a short trip to face the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night.

Game time is 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers	GP	G	A	P	New Jersey Devils	GP	G	A	P
Claude Giroux	23	9	12	21	Jesper Bratt	23	6	14	20
Sean Couturier	23	5	9	14	Andreas Johnsson	23	9	9	18
Cam Atkinson	23	9	5	14	Dougie Hamilton	20	6	9	15
Travis Konecny	23	5	7	12	Dawson Mercer	23	6	8	14
Derick Brassard	17	4	7	11	Nico Hischier	23	3	11	14

Claude Giroux got the Flyers offense going with a pair of goals in the last game on Monday. With five points in his last five games, he continues to supply points, though he's often been the only one doing it with any consistency.

Jesper Bratt leads the Devils in points this season and has been on a hot streak for most of the last month. After going without a point in the first five games of the season, Bratt has points in 14 of the last 18 games, including his best offensive showing of the season on Nov. 28, when he had a goal and two assists against the Flyers.

Carter Hart gets the start for the Flyers. Hart's last start was disastrous, allowing five goals before being pulled for Martin Jones. Hart's overall numbers still look good, but have certainly taken a hit with the team's defensive struggles.

Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to be in goal for the Devils. Blackwood is coming off a shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators, where he allowed two goals on 23 shots. Blackwood has lost three straight starts, with his last win coming against the Flyers on Nov. 28 when he made 23 saves on 25 shots.

Projected Lineups

Flyers Scratches: Ryan Ellis (injury), Joel Farabee (injury), Nate Thompson (injury), Kevin Connauton (healthy), Max Willman (healthy)

Devils Scratches: Miles Wood (injury), Tyce Thompson (injury), Mason Geertsen (healthy), Jesper Boqvist (healthy), Christian Jaros (healthy)

Lineup Notes

Flyers: Derick Brassard returns to the lineup after missing the last six games. Max Willman comes out of the lineup. Brassard will skate on the fourth line with Patrick Brown and Zack MacEwen. Newly-acquired defenseman Kevin Connauton, claimed off waivers on Tuesday, will not play in tonight's game.
Devils: No changes expected for the Devils.

Game Notes

Power Play: Flyers (27th), Devils (31st)
Penalty Kill: Flyers (22nd), Devils (20th)
Recent History vs. Devils
- Nov. 28, 2021 – Devils 5, Flyers 2 (at NJ)
Flyers Leaders vs. Devils
- Claude Giroux – 60 GP, 15 G, 40 A, 55 P
- James van Riemsdyk – 43 GP, 17 G, 15 A, 32 P
- Cam Atkinson – 27 GP, 12 G, 8 A, 20 P
- Ivan Provorov – 25 GP, 4 G, 12 A, 16 P
- Carter Hart – 5 GP, 3-2-0, 2.21 GAA, .923 SV%
Milestone Watch
- Travis Konecny needs one goal to reach 100 for his career.
- Derick Brassard needs two goals to reach 200 for his career.
- Claude Giroux needs one power-play point to pass Bobby Clarke for the Flyers all-time franchise lead.
- Giroux also needs four assists to reach 600 for his career.
- Giroux also needs five points to pass Bill Barber for second on the franchise's all-time scoring list.